Ravensmoor Hollow

06/27/2024

Hanging around the water cooler.

06/17/2024

We brought home some absolutely beeeeeeeautiful ladies to The Hollow a couple of weeks ago. The girls have been extremely busy building out their new hives. Updated pics to follow soon.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/pnw682.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjNpY68ruCGAxUOJUQIHY_0CEcQFnoECB8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw02Psz3dd9Prp67Ub35XGut

06/16/2024

06/16/2024

It has been a crazy weather pattern here in Oklahoma. Some of it has disrupted the natural order of things with the bee's as well as caused a proliferation of mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.

That being said!! Before you spray for pests and "weeds", please remember that bee's have approximately a 6 mile working radius. If a forager gets into a pesticide, it will attach to her body, subsequently come into the hive, and potentially wipe out a whole colony!!!

This is not only horrifically heartbreaking but a very expensive loss. Oklahoma considers bee's and therefore apiaries as protected agriculture as well as livestock. You can register for a agricultural exemption, fsa, and insurance.

Additionally, the Veterans Administration is doing studies on the benefits of beekeeping and the calming affect it has for those suffering with PTSD etc. Hives for Hero's is leading the way in bringing Vets and First Responders together with mentors and programs in this regard. Please got out to their page and give them a like and share. www.hivesforheros.org

The bee's at Ravensmoor Hollow humbly ask that...before you spray:
*Post a notice on your neighborhood pages alerting beekeepers.
This will allow them time to place a sheet over the hive or block the entrance to.the hive the night before so that the foragers are kept inside the hive.

Or, if you know your neighbor has bee's, notify them!

The bee's are struggling and everyone can bee kind and give them a hand.

Shared:
~🐝Welcoming our Buzzy Friends this summer🐝~
1. Plant Native Flowers - Bees are particularly attracted to native plants, which tend to be well-suited to your local climate and require less water and care. Planting a variety of native flowering plants, including sunflowers and zinnias, can provide bees with nectar and pollen.
2. Create a Bee Water Station - Bees need water to survive, but they often drown in traditional birdbaths. To help, you can create a safe watering station by filling a shallow dish or a bird bath with fresh water and placing stones or floating corks in it. This allows bees to land and drink safely.
3. Avoid Pesticides - Pesticides can be harmful to bees, even those labeled as organic or natural. To keep your garden bee-friendly, avoid using chemicals on plants when they are in bloom or opt for bee-safe alternatives. Instead, focus on natural pest control methods and attract beneficial insects that help keep pest populations in check.

03/21/2024

Here are those still shots of the purple dead nettle salve making process I finished up with today as well as a list of what all was in that goodness. I need to buy some smaller tin's for when I do small batches such as this. That being said, I used the tin's I had on hand (bought these for storing everything from jewelry to sunblock when traveling). Read the captions in the photos.

03/21/2024

I'll work on getting my little camera going soon. For now, ya'll are stuck with my amateur video and still photo's. I've got so much going at the farm. It's hard to keep up. Back to making salve for my longtime friend. She recently had surgery, has healing wounds, and is allergic to a lot of things. It's just best to trust mother nature. With that, Happy Spring Equinox!

03/19/2024

Let's talk about purple dead nettle and Hen bit! Two of my favorite plants. How do you tell them apart and a FEW fun facts.

Stay tuned for salve!

03/19/2024

Just a few more identification pics!

03/03/2024

One persons weeds and another's gift from nature. Next, I'll be posting how I make jelly with dandelions!!

I spent about 1.5 hours picking dandelion heads to put in my dehydrator (7 tray layers worth). Usually I'll just use the fresh flowers for things but I wanted to control my schedule around it...so, this my first time drying them for storage then I'll come back to make teas on a rainy day project.

What I did do this morning, over coffee, was remove the dried green bottom caps off of one tray worth of flowers. This is about 2 cups or a pint jar. I'm then going to add some carrier oils and let it sit for 2 weeks before rendering that into salve.

The whole dandelion is edible. Look for some recipes yourself. Tonight I'm going to make fritters with some.

Lastly, dandelions are super pollinators which the poor struggling bees need. I do everything at the farm to support the bees which also in turn supports the local honey industry.

Here's a great article on the health benefits.

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-dandelion.html

***Educate yourself! This is just how I do life and that is not intended to supercede medical advice et al.

03/03/2024

Shared from slice of life:

Here are some interesting facts about the dandelion flower:

The dandelion is the only flower that represents the 3 celestial bodies of the sun, moon and stars. ☀️🌙 ⭐️. The yellow flower resembles the sun, the puff ball resembles the moon and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars.

The dandelion flower opens to greet the morning and closes in the evening to go to sleep. 😴

Every part of the dandelion is useful: root, leaves, flower. It can be used for food, medicine and dye for coloring.

Up until the 1800s people would pull grass out of their lawns to make room for dandelions and other useful “weeds” like chickweed, malva, and chamomile.

The name dandelion is taken from the French word “dent de lion” meaning lion’s tooth, referring to the coarsely-toothed leaves. 🦁

Dandelions have one of the longest flowering seasons of any plant.

Dandelion seeds are often transported away by a gust of wind and they travel like tiny parachutes. Seeds are often carried as many as 5 miles from their origin!

Animals such as birds, insects and butterflies consume nectar or seed of dandelion.🐦 🐛 🐜 🦋 🐝.

Dandelion flowers do not need to be pollinated to form seed.

Every part of the dandelion is useful: root, leaves, flower. It can be used for food, medicine and dye for coloring.

Dandelion can be used in the production of wine and root beer. Root of dandelion can be used as a substitute for coffee. 🍷 🍺

Dandelions have sunk their roots deep into history. They were well known to ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, and have been used in Chinese traditional medicine for over a thousand years.

Dandelion is used in folk medicine to treat infections and liver disorders. Tea made of dandelion act as diuretic.

If you mow dandelions, they’ll grow shorter stalks to spite you.

Dandelions are, quite possibly, the most successful plants that exist, masters of survival worldwide. 💪

A not so fun fact: Every year countries spend millions on lawn pesticides to have uniform lawns of non-native grasses, and we use 30% of the country’s water supply to keep them green.

Bee Happy Gardens 🐝

***Educate yourself! This is just how I do life and that is not intended to supercede medical advice et al.